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You are right. Apparently they preferred them for whatever reason. Below is some more info I cut and pasted from the Internet Movie Database trivia section for the show. Says the same as you about the 2-doors. Jim Delton ¨¨°°¨°°¨Ô¨°°¨°°¨¨ The California Highway Patrol strongly supported this show in its first two seasons, and the production company was able to rent actual CHP squad cars. Generic "Highway Patrol" logos were placed over the real CHP emblems and studio license plates were taped over the genuine "E" (exempt) plates. The 1955 Buick Century two-door sedans seen were built especially for the CHP and were never offered for sale to the public. Two-door sedans were adequate, because the real CHP rarely arrested anyone at that time, being involved more with accident investigations, enforcement, and auto thefts. Major police powers were not invested in the CHP until 1964. The show's uniforms were copies of the khakis worn by the CHP including the state seal and the slogan "Eureka", except that the word "California" was removed. Authenticity was a major goal, and Dan Mathews' call sign, "21-50", was the actual unit number of then-CHP Commissioner Bernard Caldwell. In mid 1956, the CHP dropped its support of this show over differences in storylines and presentation, and refused to supply any more squad cars. The producers quickly acquired an incorrect Buick Super four-door hardtop to complete that season. Accurate squad replicas were ordered for the 1957 season, but the 1958 season cars differed from reality. The trailer hitches seen on the squad cars were for towing the film company's equipment trailers to shooting locations. Brand names of suspect vehicles were never scripted. They were always described as "a green coupe", "a tan station wagon", or "a dark blue sedan".
On Sunday, February 28, 2021, 07:45:34 PM MST, Dave Homstad <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Jim, I disagree about the 2 doors. While most police used 4 doors so they could haul away the perps, most State highway cars were 2 door sedans. California bought a large number of 56 Dodge D500 2 door sedan Coronets for Highway patrol use. Back in the 60s, Minnesota exclusively used Plymouth 2 door sedans for their cars. I always wanted one, lightweight with a 413, 426 wedge, or 440. Dave Homstad 56 Dodge D500 ----------------------------------------- From: "Jim" <0000093b5b69d73c-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Sent: Friday February 26 2021 4:53:31PM Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Forward looks in Highway Patrol The show ran from 55 to
59. The early episodes that I've seen so far had Olds and
Buicks and Mercs usually 56, 57, and 58 models. I'm only
guessing but it seems like when the Forward looks came out whoever
was in charge of the show liked them and immediately started using
them but you'd still see the olds, buicks and mercs show up.
The outfitting of the cars as police cars seems pretty well done
except many of them are two doors which I don't think too many
police departments would have actually used.. But they look better
and perhaps the same "car guy" who picked the Mopars had a hand in
that choice too. Many of the shots of the cars are really
rather extended.. certainly more extended than would be the case
today.. maybe just to fill time or maybe because the cars looked so
good they wanted to film them. I watched the show originally
when my age was single digits... watching it now I'm impressed with
the quality of almost all the scripts, really realistic and far
less sappy than many 50's era shows. Gene Roddenbury, who
went on to fame with Star Trek, wrote one of the scripts. He
had been a patrol officer for LAPD, maybe even was at the
time.
Jim Delton ¨¨°°¨°°¨Ô¨°°¨°°¨¨
On Friday, February 26, 2021, 08:44:48 AM MST, William
Amberger <magnumguy78@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I seem to recall most of the episodes I saw
where Mopars were the stars. I remember an occasional Buick and
Merc. Bill the
Magnumguy
John 3:17
On 2/26/2021
2:52 AM, Larry Ashbaugh wrote:
Great Mopars. The 59 Chevy looks tinny and
poorly styled compared to the Desoto and even the Dodge. I
remember most of the series they used Buicks for the Highway Patrol
cars. Nice to see they went to Mopars in the
end.....
Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim <0000093b5b69d73c-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thu, Feb 25, 2021 11:30 pm Subject: [FWDLK] Forward looks in Highway Patrol Found a bunch of old Highway Patrol TV shows on
youtube. Here's a couple with some real live forward looks in
them.
Express delivery. Gorgeous Forward look 2-door Desoto with
day/night electronic Mirror, also Dodge
Detour to death. forward look Plymouth and
dodge.
Jim Delton ¨¨°°¨°°¨Ô¨°°¨°°¨¨
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